It’s the call no fleet manager wants to get: a stationary vehicle involved in a multi-point collision. While parked on a B-road, our client’s Volvo truck was struck by another vehicle coming around a corner. The impact wasn’t just a single hit; the oncoming vehicle struck the front end of the truck before rebounding and hitting the rear of the trailer.
1. The Damage Assessment
A double-impact claim is trickier than a standard fender-bender. Our first job was to ensure the force of the two hits hadn’t twisted the chassis or damaged the connection point between the truck and the trailer.
Front End: Damage to the bumper, grille, and nearside headlight.
Rear Trailer: Impact to the rear underrun bar (the “crash bar”) and the tail-light clusters.
Hidden Concerns: We checked the air lines and electrical “suzie” cables between the truck and trailer to ensure no tension damage occurred during the shunts.
2. The Repair Strategy
We treated this as a two-part project to get the vehicle back to work as fast as possible:
The Volvo Truck: We replaced the damaged front-end components with genuine Volvo parts. Because modern Volvo trucks use integrated radar and camera systems for safety, we performed a full ADAS recalibration to ensure the emergency braking sensors were 100% accurate.
The Trailer: The rear underrun protection is a legal safety requirement. We stripped the bent steel, fitted a new reinforced bar, and replaced the shattered lighting units, ensuring all indicators and brake lights were synced perfectly with the truck’s cab.
3. Quality Control & Handover
Before the keys were handed back, the vehicle underwent a full safety inspection. A stationary hit can sometimes cause “shunting” damage to the engine mounts or the fifth-wheel plate, so we performed a stress test to guarantee the rig was structurally sound.
The Result: The Volvo truck and trailer were back on the road, looking and performing like they’d never been touched.
Efficiency is Key
By managing the repairs for both the truck and the trailer simultaneously in one workshop, we saved the client days of downtime and simplified the insurance claim process.
Need a Repair?
Whether it’s a minor scuff or a major collision repair, we specialise in getting HGV’s back to work quickly and safely.
Give us a call or fill in our estimates form to get a quote.
